Device, system and method to implement multiple-input multiple-output channel access rules in an enhanced directional multi-gigabit network

ABSTRACT

A wireless communication device, system and method. The device includes a memory, a processing circuitry coupled to the memory and including logic, the processing circuitry to cause communication in an Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) network. The processing circuitry may be configured to: activate at least one Radio Frequency (RF) chain of a plurality of RF chains to allow detection of a preamble of a wireless communication and to allow a setting of a Network Allocation Vector (NAV); detect the preamble using the at least one RF chain; set the NAV using the at least one RF chain; maintain a backoff timer for the at least one RF chain; and, in response to a determination that the backoff timer has reached zero, cause a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) wireless communication in the EDMG network.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation (and claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 120) of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/638,656, filedJun. 30, 2017 and entitled DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD TO IMPLEMENTMULTIPLE-INPUT MULTIPLE-OUTPUT CHANNEL ACCESS RULES IN AN ENHANCEDDIRECTIONAL MULTI-GIGABIT NETWORK. The disclosure of the priorApplication is considered part of and is incorporated by reference inthe disclosure of this Application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for wirelesscommunications and, more particularly, to timeouts for wirelesscommunication such as in 60 GHz networks including Wi-Gig.

BACKGROUND

Devices may communicate over a next generation 60 GHz (NG60) network, adirectional multi-gigabit (DMG) network, an enhanced DMG (EDMG) network,and/or any other network.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11aydeveloping standard, also referred to as Next Generation 60 GHz or NG60,facilitates EDMG networks, and supports Single-User (SU) Multiple-InputMultiple-Output (MIMO) and Downlink (DL) Multi-User (MU) MIMO (MU MIMO).Currently, MIMO channel access rules, and specifically ways in which toperform Clear Channel Assessment (CCA), to maintain Network AllocationVectors (NAVs), and/or to configure a backoff timer to allow MIMOchannel access, are not defined for EDMG networks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary EDMG environment, in accordance with one ormore embodiments.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show respective block diagrams of a first embodiment anda second embodiment of a STA;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are respective schematic depictions of antennaconfigurations according to a first embodiment and a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an example machine upon which any of oneor more techniques (e.g., methods) may be performed, in accordance withone or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram of a method according to an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments described herein provide certain systems, methods,and devices, for providing signaling information to Wi-Fi devices invarious Wi-Fi networks, including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11adand/or IEEE 802.11ay (i.e. Next Generation 60 GHz or NG60).

The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustratespecific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practicethem. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical,process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodimentsmay be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments.Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalentsof those claims.

A directional multi-gigabit (DMG) communication may involve one or moredirectional links to communicate at a rate of multiple gigabits persecond. An amendment to a DMG operation in a 60 GHz band, e.g.,according to an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.11ad standard, may be defined, for example, by an IEEE 802.11ayproject (NG60 project). EDMG compliant devices may provide a maximumthroughput of at least 20 gigabits per second (measured at the MediumAccess Control (MAC) data service access point), while maintaining orimproving the power efficiency per station. EDMG operation is typicallyon license-exempt bands above 45 GHz, such as, for example, 60 GHz.Stations (STAs) devices in compliance with 802.11ay may be termedenhanced DMG STAs (EDMG STAs) or EDMG devices. It is to be noted that“STA” as used herein may be used to refer among other things to a userdevice or to an access point (AP). In some demonstrative embodiments,one or more STAs may be configured to communicate over an EDMG basicservice set (EDMG BSS), and/or any other network. In some scenarios, aDMG or EDMG STA may have reciprocal DMG or EDMG antennas.

A Network Allocation Vector (NAV) can refer to a virtual carrier-sensingmechanism that can be used with wireless network protocols. A header ofa frame at the Medium Access Control layer (MAC layer) may include aduration field from which a transmission time required for transmissionof the frame may be determined by the receiver. The STAs listening onthe wireless medium that are different from the STA or STAs to which theframe payload is addressed (NAV setting STAs) may decode the durationfield and set their NAVs accordingly (this deferring their access to themedium for the duration of the frame transmission). If a STA is anunintended receiver, it may update its NAV table, and, if it is a DMGSTA, it may check if it can create an antenna pattern to avoid all theinterference indicated by the active NAVs.

Embodiments provide two main options for providing MIMO channel accessin a EDMG network. In general, according to embodiments, multiple radiofrequency (RF) chains may participate in gaining MIMO channel access.According to a first demonstrative embodiment or option 1, reach RFchain in a system with multiple RF chains may participate in preambledetection and NAV setting. According to this option, the MIMO backofftimer may decrease in response to a determination that all RF chainshave sensed the medium to be clear. According to a second demonstrativeembodiment or option 2, an RF chain dedicated for SISO communication maybe considered as a primary RF chain, and may be the only RF chain usedfor preamble detection and NAV setting (that is, the RF chain dedicatedfor SISO may use both physical and virtual carrier sense to determinewhether a channel is busy), while any other RF chains may be consideredsecondary RF chains, and would not participate in preamble detection orNAV setting, but would maintain CCA energy detection (that is thesecondary RF chains may use only physical carrier sensing) to determinewhether MIMO channel access should be granted.

According to this second option, the backoff timer may be associatedwith the primary RF chain only, and CCA may have to be clear for atleast a Point Coordination Function Interframe Space (PIFS) time period(which time interval represents the time interval immediately precedingthe time when the backoff counter reaches 0) before the secondary RFchains may gain access to the medium. More regarding these two optionswill be described further below. It is to be noted that each optionencompasses many variations and embodiments in its own right.

FIG. 1 is a network diagram illustrating an example network environment,according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure.Wireless network 100 may include one or more STAs or user devices 120and one or more access point(s) (AP) 102, which may communicate inaccordance with IEEE 802.11 communication standards, including, but notlimited to, IEEE 802.11ad and/or IEEE 802.11ay. The STAs or user devices120 may be mobile user devices that are non-stationary and do not havefixed locations.

Each of the STAs or user devices 120 (e.g., 124, 126, or 128) mayinclude any suitable processor-driven user device including, but notlimited to, a desktop user device, a laptop user device, a server, arouter, a switch, an access point, a smartphone, a tablet, a wearablewireless user device (e.g., bracelet, watch, glasses, ring, etc.) and soforth. In some embodiments, the STAs or user devices 120 and AP 102 mayinclude one or more computer systems similar to that of the functionaldiagrams of FIG. 2a or 2 b and/or the example machine/system of FIG. 4,to be discussed further.

Returning to FIG. 1, any of the STAs or user devices 120 (e.g., STAs124, 126, 128), and AP 102 may be configured to communicate with eachother via one or more communications networks 130 and/or 135, such asEDMG networks. Any of the communications networks 130 and/or 135 mayinclude, but not limited to, any one of a combination of different typesof suitable communications networks such as, for example, broadcastingnetworks, cable networks, public networks (e.g., the Internet), privatenetworks, wireless networks, cellular networks, or any other suitableprivate and/or public networks. Further, any of the communicationsnetworks 130 and/or 135 may have any suitable communication rangeassociated therewith and may include, for example, global networks(e.g., the Internet), metropolitan area networks (MANS), wide areanetworks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), or personal area networks(PANS). In addition, any of the communications networks 130 and/or 135may include any type of medium over which network traffic may be carriedincluding, but not limited to, coaxial cable, twisted-pair wire, opticalfiber, a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) medium, microwave terrestrialtransceivers, radio frequency communication mediums, white spacecommunication mediums, ultra-high frequency communication mediums,satellite communication mediums, or any combination thereof.

Any of the STAs or user devices 120 (e.g., STAs 124, 126, 128), and AP102 may include one or more communications antennae. Communicationsantenna may be any suitable type of antenna corresponding to thecommunications protocols used by the STAs or user devices 120 (e.g.,STAs 124, 124 and 128), and AP 102. Some non-limiting examples ofsuitable communications antennas include Wi-Fi antennas, Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standardscompatible antennas, directional antennas, non-directional antennas,dipole antennas, folded dipole antennas, patch antennas, multiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO) antennas, phased array antennas, or the like. Thecommunications antennas may be communicatively coupled to a radiocomponent or radio frequency (RF chain) to transmit and/or receivesignals, such as communications signals to and/or from the STAs or userdevices 120.

Any of the STAs or user devices 120 (e.g., STAs 124, 126, 128), and AP102 may include any suitable baseband processing circuitry, and anysuitable radio and/or transceiver for transmitting and/or receivingradio frequency (RF) signals in the bandwidth and/or channelscorresponding to the communications protocols utilized by any of theSTAs or user devices 120 and AP 102 to communicate with each other. Thebaseband processing circuitry may include a memory and one or moreprocessors that may include hardware and software/logic to modulateand/or demodulate communications signals according to pre-establishedtransmission protocols. The radio components or RF chains may furtherhave hardware in the form of a radio integrated circuit and a front-endmodule connected to the one or more antennas, and/or softwareinstructions to communicate via one or more Wi-Fi and/or Wi-Fi directprotocols, as set forth in an IEEE 802.11 standards. In certain exampleembodiments, the baseband processing circuitry, radio component, incooperation with the communications antennas, may be configured tocommunicate via 2.4 GHz channels (e.g. 802.11, 802.11g, 802.11n), 5 GHzchannels (e.g. 802.11n, 802.11ac), or 60 GHZ channels (e.g. 802.11ad).In some embodiments, non-Wi-Fi protocols may be used for communicationsbetween devices, such as Bluetooth, dedicated short-range communication(DSRC), Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) (e.g. IEEE 802.11af, IEEE 802.22),white band frequency (e.g., white spaces), or other packetized radiocommunications. The radio component may include any known receiver andbaseband suitable for communicating via the communications protocols.The radio component may further include a low noise amplifier (LNA),additional signal amplifiers, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, oneor more buffers, and digital baseband.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more STAs may be configured tocommunicate a multi-user (MU) multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO)frame, for example, over an EDMG frequency band, such as a 60 GHzfrequency band. The one or more STAs may be configured to communicate ina mixed environment such that one or more legacy STAs are able tocommunicate with one or more non-legacy STAs. STAs may communicate witheach other at least to some extent regardless of which IEEE 802.11specification is followed.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show functional diagrams of two exemplary embodimentsincluding, respectively, STAs 200 a and 200 b. FIGS. 2a and 2b representfunctional block diagrams of two STA embodiments that may be suitablefor use as an AP 102 (FIG. 1) or user device 120 (FIG. 1) in accordancewith some embodiments. In some instances, in the present description,the STAs 200 a or 200 b may be referred to as system 200. Likecomponents may be referred to in FIGS. 2a and 2b with like referencenumerals, it being understood that such like components may havefunctionalities that may be distinguishable as between FIGS. 2a and 2b .The STA 200 a or 200 b may be suitable for use as a handheld device,mobile device, cellular telephone, smartphone, tablet, netbook, wirelessterminal, laptop computer, wearable computer device, femtocell, HighData Rate (HDR) subscriber station, access point, access terminal, orother personal communication system (PCS) device. It is to be notedthat, in FIGS. 2a and 2b , double sided solid arrows represent the flowof signals either to or from the shown RF chains, whereas the doublesided broken arrows represent the flow of other signals between thecomponents of the STAs 200 a and 200 b.

Referring now to FIG. 2a , the embodiment of a STA 200 a that may beused to implement option 1 is shown. STA 200 a may include a number ofradio frequency (RF) chains 217 and 218, with each RF chain including atransmit (TX) chain and a receive (RX) chain as would be recognized byone skilled in the art. Antennas 207 a and 213 a each represent aphased-array antenna and are each shown to include respective antennaelements. In particular, antenna 207 a includes antenna elements 203 aand 205 a, with each antenna element connected to its own phase shifter,such as, respectively, phase shifters 220 and 221. Antenna 213 aincludes antenna elements 201 and 202, with each antenna elementconnected to its own phase shifter, such as, respectively, phaseshifters 222 and 223. The phase shifters are to allow analog beamformingin a well-known manner. Each antenna 207 a and 213 a in the embodimentof FIG. 2a is shown as being connected to its own RF chain.

The RF chains 217 and 218 may comprise circuitry configured to operateon EDMG signals to or from antennas 207 a and 213 a, to amplify thesignals, typically using a single amplifier per RF chain, and to providethe amplified versions of the signals for further processing, such as tobaseband processor 209 if the signals are RX signals, or to the antennasif the signals are TX signals. Embodiments further contemplate the useof other well-known components in the RF chains, such as oscillators andphase-lock loops (not shown), as would be recognized by one skilled inthe art. The RF chains may further include circuitry to down-convert RXsignals and provide baseband signals to a baseband processor 209, or toup-convert baseband signals provided by the baseband processor 209 andprovide RF output signals for subsequent wireless transmission by theone or more antennas 207 a and 213 a.

Referring now to FIG. 2b , the embodiment of STA 200 b that may be usedto implement option 2 is shown. STA 200 b as shown may be different fromthe embodiment of STA 200 a at least in that, instead of one RF chainper antenna, it may include a number of RF chains per antenna, such asRF chain 217 and RF chain 218, with each RF chain including a transmit(TX) chain and a receive (RX) chain as would be recognized by oneskilled in the art. The RF chains 217 and 218 in this embodiment areshown as being coupled to an antenna 215, the antenna 215 including afirst antenna portion 207 b and a second antenna portion 213 b,respectively coupled to RF chain 217 and RF chain 218. Antenna portions207 b and 213 b each represent a phased-array antenna portion of antenna215, and are each shown to include respective antenna elements. Antennaportion 207 b includes antenna elements 203 and 205, with each antennaelement connected to its own phase shifter, such as phase shifters 220and 221. Antenna portion 213 b includes antenna elements 201 and 202,with each antenna element connected to its own phase shifter, such asphase shifters 222 and 223. The phase shifters are to allow analogbeamforming in a well-known manner. Each antenna portion 207 b and 213 bin the embodiment of FIG. 2b is shown as being connected to its own RFchain.

The RF chains 217 and 218 may comprise circuitry configured to operateon EDMG signals to or from antennas portions 207 b and 213 b, to amplifythe signals, typically using a single amplifier per RF chain, and toprovide the amplified versions of the signals for further processing,such as to baseband processor 209 if the signals are RX signals, or tothe antennas if the signals are TX signals. Embodiments furthercontemplate the use of other well-known components in the RF chains,such as oscillators and phase-lock loops (not shown), as would berecognized by one skilled in the art. The RF chains may further includecircuitry to down-convert RX signals and provide baseband signals to abaseband processor 209, or to up-convert baseband signals provided bythe baseband processor 209 and provide RF output signals for subsequentwireless transmission by the one or more antennas portions 207 b and 213b.

Referring now to both FIGS. 2a and 2b , baseband processor 209 mayinclude a memory 212, such as, for example, a set of RAM arrays in aFast Fourier Transform or Inverse Fast Fourier Transform block (notshown) of the baseband processor 209. The memory 212 in basebandprocessor 209 may further including stored software and/or firmware forallowing the baseband processor to perform MAC and PHY operations, suchas those described herein. Baseband processor 209 may further includeprocessing circuitry 214 that may include control logic to process thesignals received from RF chains 217 and 218. Baseband processor 209 isalso configured to generate corresponding baseband signals for thetransmit signal paths of RF chains 217 and 218, may further includephysical layer (PHY) and medium access control layer (MAC) circuitry,and may further interface with an application processor 206 forgeneration and processing of the baseband signals. Also shown in FIGS.2a and 2b is a RF controller 244 which may include circuitry to controlthe operation of the RF chains 217 and 218. Although, in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the RF controller 244 is shown as having its own dedicated blockwithin system 200, embodiments are not so limited, and include withintheir scope the provision of an RF controller circuitry either on itsown as shown, within baseband processor 209, within applicationprocessor 206, or a combination of the above, according to applicationneeds. In some embodiments, the system 200, including any component orcombination of components therein, may be configured to performoperations according to some demonstrative embodiments.

In accordance with some embodiments, the baseband processor 209 may bearranged to contend for a wireless medium and configure EDMG frames orpackets for communicating over the wireless medium. The STA 200 a or 200b may be arranged to transmit and receive signals, the signals beingcaused to be transmitted or received by the baseband processor 209and/or application processor 206 or RF controller 244. In someembodiments, baseband processor 209 and application processor 206 and RFcontroller 244 of the system 200 may each include one or moreprocessors. In other embodiments, the antennas may be arranged forreceiving and sending signals, respectively. The memory 208 may storeinformation for configuring the application processor 206 and/orbaseband processor 209 and/or RF controller 244 to perform operationsfor configuring and causing transmission or reception of message framesand performing the various operations described herein. The memory 208and/or 212 may include any type of memory, including non-transitorymemory, for storing information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., acomputer). For example, the memory 208 and/or 212 may include acomputer-readable storage device may, read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storagemedia, flash-memory devices and other storage devices and media.

In some embodiments, STA 200 a or 200 b may be part of a portablewireless communication device, such as a personal digital assistant(PDA), a laptop or portable computer with wireless communicationcapability, a web tablet, a wireless telephone, a smartphone, a wirelessheadset, a pager, an instant messaging device, a digital camera, anaccess point, a television, a medical device (e.g., a heart ratemonitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc.), a wearable computer device, oranother device that may receive and/or transmit information wirelessly.

In some embodiments, antennas may include one or more directional, quasiomnidirectional and/or omnidirectional antennas, including, for example,phased-array antennas, dipole antennas, monopole antennas, patchantennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas, or other types of antennassuitable for transmission of RF signals. In some embodiments, instead oftwo or more antennas, a single antenna with multiple apertures may beused. In these embodiments, each aperture may be considered a separateantenna. In some multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) embodiments, theantennas may be effectively separated for spatial diversity and thedifferent channel characteristics that may result between each of theantennas and the antennas of a transmitting station. More regarding aconfiguration of the antennas will be set forth with respect to FIGS. 3aand 3b below.

Although the shown embodiments of FIGS. 2a and 2b depict the sameantenna(s), that is, 207 a and 213 a for FIGS. 2a , and 215 for FIG. 2b, and as being used for both the TX and RX chains (through the use of awell-known TX/RX switch (not shown), embodiments are not so limited,include within their scope of the use of separate antennas for the TXchain and for the RX chain, respectively. Furthermore, although only twoantennas with two antenna elements each are depicted in FIG. 2a , andalthough a single antenna with two antenna portions 207 b and 213 b aredepicted in FIG. 2b , embodiments encompass within their scope the useof any number of antennas with each antenna including any number ofantenna elements to effect transmission and reception, as long as, forthe embodiment of FIG. 2a , there is one RF chain per antenna, and forthe embodiment of FIG. 2b , there is one RF chain per antenna portion,with each antenna portion having a distinct polarization as will beexplained further below. For example, the embodiment of FIGS. 2a couldbe interpreted as having more than two antennas, with each antennahaving more than two antenna elements (as is usually the case for phasedarray antennas), although only two are shown for ease of reference.Similarly, the embodiment of FIG. 2b could be interpreted as having morethan four antenna elements, although only four antenna elements areshown in FIG. 2b . It is understood that other modifications to thesystem of FIGS. 2a and 2b , including to the configuration of phaseshifters, amplifiers, phase lock loops, oscillators baseband processor,memory, application processor, and/or addition or removal of variouselements are within the purview of embodiments. It is further to beunderstood that, as used in the instant description, processingcircuitry may refer to processing circuitry within one or more of abaseband processor, such as baseband processor 209, within a RFcontroller, such as RF controller 244, within an application processor,such as application processor 206, by way of example, or anywhere elseon the STA 200 a or 200 b.

Although STA 200 a or 200 b is illustrated as having several separatefunctional elements, two or more of the functional elements may becombined and may be implemented by combinations of software-configuredelements, such as processing elements including digital signalprocessors (DSPs), and/or other hardware elements. For example, someelements may include one or more microprocessors, DSPs,field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) andcombinations of various hardware and logic circuitry for performing atleast the functions described herein. In some embodiments, thefunctional elements of the communication station 200 may refer to one ormore processes operating on one or more processing elements.

Certain embodiments may be implemented in one or a combination ofhardware, firmware, and software. Other embodiments may also beimplemented as instructions stored on a computer-readable storagedevice, which may be read and executed by at least one processor toperform the operations described herein. A computer-readable storagedevice may include any non-transitory memory mechanism for storinginformation in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). Forexample, a computer-readable storage device may include read-only memory(ROM), random-access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media, opticalstorage media, flash-memory devices, and other storage devices andmedia. In some embodiments, the communication station 200 may includeone or more processors and may be configured with instructions stored ona computer-readable storage device memory.

In some embodiments, STA 200 a or 200 b may include one or more of akeyboard, a display, a non-volatile memory port, multiple antennas, agraphics processor, an application processor, speakers, and other mobiledevice elements. The display may be an LCD screen including a touchscreen.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show a schematic illustration of respective antennaconfigurations corresponding to a first embodiment (first option oroption 1, corresponding for example to the shown embodiment of FIG. 2a )and a second embodiment (second option or option 2, corresponding forexample to the shown embodiment of FIG. 2b ). For both options 1 and 2,for example as implemented respectively by the STA 200 of FIG. 2a and bythe STA 200 b of FIG. 2b , it is assumed that each wireless spatialstream (each independent signal) is to be transmitted using one RFchain, such as RF chain 217 or 218, and that each RF chain is configuredto cause a quasi-omnidirectional antenna pattern. The embodiments ofFIGS. 3a and 3b may further be based on the following assumptions: (1)that a wireless communication device, such as STA 200 a or 200 b, or anycomponent or combination of components thereof, according toembodiments, may be ready for SISO reception when it is in an idlestate, regardless of whether its next transmission is a SISOtransmission or a MIMO transmission; (2) the SISO reception may requirea single RF chain (RX chain) to be on at any one time; (3) the wirelesscommunication device may activate other RF chains when a MIMOcommunication is expected; and (4) for a given wireless communicationdevice antenna configuration, CCA using one polarization may not provideenough gain for CCA using an orthogonal polarization to that onepolarization.

Referring first to FIG. 3a , an antenna configuration 300 a is shownaccording to a first embodiment, or option 1. Antenna configuration 300a includes a first EDMG antenna 307 a and a second EDMG antenna 313 a,for example representing antennas 207 a and 213 a in the STA 200 a ofFIG. 2a . Each antenna 307 a and 313 a includes a plurality of antennaelements, such as antenna elements 303 and 305 of antenna 307 a (itbeing understood that each shown antenna has many more antenna elements,only two of which are provided per antenna with reference numerals), andantenna elements 301 and 302 of antenna 313 a. It is to be understoodthat each of the antennas shown in FIG. 3a has its own RF chain (notshown). The RF chains may, for example, correspond to RF chain 217 and218 of FIG. 2a , with phase shifters 320 and 322 as having been shown inFIG. 3a . According to option 1, as shown by way of example in FIG. 3a ,each spatial stream may be transmitted using a different EDMG antenna307 a and 313 a. In the example of FIG. 3a , and according to option 1,polarization on different EDMA antennas, such as antennas 307 a and 313a, may or may not be the same. For example, each of EDMG antennas 307 aand 313 a may have a vertical or a horizontal polarization. In addition,according to option 1, each EDMG antenna, such as antennas 307 a and 313a, may have a quasi-omnidirectional antenna pattern with its ownpolarization.

Referring next to FIG. 3b , an antenna configuration 300 b is shownaccording to a second embodiment, or option 2. Antenna configuration 300b includes an EDMG antenna 315, for example representing antenna 215 ofFIG. 2b . Antenna 315 includes a first portion 307 b including antennaelements 303 and 305, and a second portion 313 b including antennaelements 301 and 302, the first portion 307 b having a polarization thatis orthogonal to a polarization of the second portion 313 b. Forexample, first portion 307 b may have a vertical polarization, andsecond potion 313 b may have a horizontal polarization, or vice versa.The first portion 307 b may, for example, correspond to antenna 207 b ofFIG. 2b , and second portion 313 b may correspond to antenna 213 b ofFIG. 2b . Each of the first portion 307 b and second portion 313 b mayhave its own RF chain. According to option 2, as shown by way of examplein FIG. 3b , a single EDMG antenna may support two orthogonalpolarizations, with one set of antenna elements, such as elements 303and 305 at a first polarization, and a second set of antenna elements,such as antenna elements 301 and 302 at a second polarization orthogonalto the first polarization. The first set and second set may for examplebe at two respective portions 307 b and 313 b of the antenna, as shownby way of example in FIG. 3b . However, on a single EDMG antenna,according to option 2, the elements of each polarization need notnecessarily be collocated. Thus, although the embodiment of FIG. 3bshows a first portion 307 b that occupies one half of the antenna 315,and a second portion 313 b that occupies another half of the antenna315, embodiments encompass within their scope the provision of anantenna having a plurality of antenna elements where a first set of theantenna elements defines a first portion of the antenna with a firstpolarization and a first RF chain, and a second set of antenna elementsdefines a second portion of the antenna with a second polarizationorthogonal to the first polarization, the antenna elements for any oneof the first and second portions being disposed according to any patternon the antenna. According to option 2, each set of antenna elementsrepresenting a given polarization is part of a single RF chain, and isconfigured to transmit one spatial stream. As shown by way of example inFIG. 3b , first portion 307 b with a first polarization may be part ofan RF chain similar to RF chain 217 of FIG. 2b , and second portion 313b with a second orthogonal polarization us may be part of an RF chainsimilar to RF chain 218 of FIG. 2b . Each spatial stream may betransmitted using a single RF chain, and each polarization,corresponding to each RF chain, may have its own quasi omnidirectionalpattern through a corresponding antenna portion such as antenna portions307 b and 313 b. Phase shifter 320 and 322 are also shown in FIG. 3b ,with a phase shifter per antenna element.

A first embodiment, pertaining to option 1 for allowing channel accessin a MIMO environment will now be described in reference to FIG. 3 a.

According to option 1, every RF chain of a given plurality of RF chainsprovided as part of a wireless communication device, such as STA/AP 200a of FIG. 2a , and such as RF chains 217 and 218, may exhibit the samebehavior: the wireless communication device may thus cause preambledetection on the air medium using every RF chain of the given pluralityof RF chains provided for EDMG communication, and may further beconfigured to maintain the NAV using every RF chain of the givenplurality of RF chains. By “given plurality of RF chains” as used inthis disclosure, what is meant herein is that a wireless communicationdevice may include any number of RF chains, but that, according toembodiments, a given plurality of (that is, all or a subset of) such RFchains may be dedicated to MIMO channel access in an EDMG environment.According to option 1, the wireless communication device may furtherinclude a SISO backoff timer, and a MIMO backoff timer. The wirelesscommunication device may use the RF chain of the given plurality of RFchains that is dedicated to SISO transmission to maintain the SISObackoff timer, with the behavior of the SISO backoff timer being incompliance with the backoff timer defined in IEEE 802.11ad. The wirelesscommunication device may further use all RF chains to maintain the MIMObackoff timer, such that the MIMO backoff timer decreases in response toa determination that all RF chains show a clear channel, and freezeswhen at least one RF chain shows a busy channel, with MIMO channelaccess being allowed when the MIMO backoff channel reaches 0. As notedpreviously, option 1 may use an antenna configuration similar to antennaconfiguration 300 a shown in FIG. 3a , with an RF chain per antenna, anda phase shifter per antenna element.

According to option 2, a wireless communication device, such as STA/AP200 b of FIG. 2b , may include a primary RF chain and a secondary RFchain of a given plurality of RF chains, for example a primary RF chain216 and a secondary RF chain 217, with the primary RF chain being usedfor SISO communication, and the secondary RF chain being the RF chainthat is not used for SISO communication, but only for MIMOcommunication. According to option 2, the wireless communication devicemay cause preamble detection on wireless signals on the air medium usingthe primary RF chain of the given plurality of RF chains, such asprimary RF chain 217 and 218 of FIG. 2b , and may further be configuredto maintain the NAV this same primary RF chain. According to option 2,the wireless communication device may cause the secondary RF chains,such as RF chain 217 of FIG. 2b , to maintain CCA using energy detection(for example either a quasi-omnidirectional CCA or a directional CCA) toallow MIMO transmissions. The wireless communication device may furtherinclude a single backoff timer and may use the primary RF chain tomaintain the backoff timer such that: (1) the backoff timer decreases inresponse to a determination that the primary RF chain indicates that thechannel is clear; (2) the backoff timer freezes in response to adetermination that the channel is busy; (3) in response to adetermination that the backoff timer has reached 0: a) the wirelesscommunication device may access a SISO channel using the primary RFchain; and b) in response to a further determination that all secondaryRF chains indicate CCA is clear for a PIFS duration, the wirelesscommunication device may access MIMO channels. As noted previously,option 2 may use an antenna configuration similar to antennaconfiguration 300 b shown in FIG. 3b , with an RF chain per antennaportion, with each antenna portion defined by a polarization that isorthogonal to another antenna portion on the same antenna, and with aphase shifter per antenna element.

Some embodiments pertain to a wireless communication device comprising amemory (such as memory 208 of FIG. 2a or 2 b) and a processing circuitrycoupled to the memory (such as processing circuitry in any one orcombination of the baseband processor 209, application processor 206 andRF controller 244 of FIGS. 2a and 2b ) and including logic, theprocessing circuitry to cause communication in an Enhanced DirectionalMulti-Gigabit (EDMG) network (such as the EDMG networks of FIG. 1), theprocessing circuitry further being configured to: activate at least oneRadio Frequency (RF) chain of a plurality of RF chains to allowdetection of a preamble of a wireless communication and to allow. Forexample, referring to FIG. 2a and for option 1, the processingcircuitry, in the form of RF controller 244, may activate all of the RFchains 217 and 218 in order to allow preamble detection and NAV setting.For example, referring to FIG. 2b and for option 2, the processingcircuitry, in the form of RF controller 244, may activate only a primaryRF chain, such as RF chain 217 in order to allow preamble detection andNAV setting. Thereafter, the processing circuitry may set the NAV anddetect the preamble. For example, referring to FIG. 2a and for option 1,the processing circuitry, in the form of baseband processor 209 and/orapplication processor 206, may detect the preamble and set the NAV usingall of the activated RF chains 217 and 218. For example, referring toFIG. 2 b and for option 2, the processing circuitry, in the form ofbaseband processor 209 and/or application processor 206, may detect thepreamble and set the NAV using only the primary RF chain 217. Theprocessing circuitry may maintain a backoff timer for the at least oneRF chain. For example, referring to FIG. 2a and for option 1, theprocessing circuitry, in the form of baseband processor 209 and/orapplication processor 206, may maintain a SISO backoff timer on the RFchain typically used for SISO, and a MIMO backoff counter of all of theRF chains 217 and 218. For example, referring to FIG. 2b and for option2, the processing circuitry, in the form of baseband processor 209and/or application processor 206, may maintain a backoff timer only onthe primary RF chain 217. The processing circuitry may, in response to adetermination that the backoff timer has reached zero, cause a MultipleInput Multiple Output (MIMO) wireless communication in the EDMG network.For example, referring to FIG. 2a and for option 1, the processingcircuitry, in the form of baseband processor 209 and/or applicationprocessor 206, may maintain a SISO backoff timer on the RF chaintypically used for SISO, and a MIMO backoff counter of all of the RFchains 217 and 218. For example, referring to FIG. 2b and for option 2,the processing circuitry, in the form of baseband processor 209 and/orapplication processor 206, may maintain a backoff timer only on theprimary RF chain 217.

A wireless communication device according to option 1 may maintain afirst backoff timer on each RF chain of the plurality of RF chain,maintain a second backoff timer on a single RF chain of the plurality ofRF chains, cause the MIMO wireless communication in response to adetermination that the first backoff timer has reached zero, and cause aSISO wireless communication in response to a determination that thesecond backoff timer has reached zero. For example, referring to FIG. 2aand for option 1, the processing circuitry, in the form of basebandprocessor 209 and/or application processor 206, may maintain a MIMObackoff counter on all of the RF chains 217 and 218, and maintain a SISObackoff counter on only RF chain 217, and may cause MIMO wirelesscommunication when the MIMO backoff counter has reached zero, and causea SISO wireless communication when the SISO backoff counter has reachedzero.

A wireless communication device according to option 2 may maintain abackoff timer on only the primary RF chain (that is, on only the primaryRF chain for EDMG communication), perform Clear Channel Access (CCA)energy detection on the plurality of secondary RF chains for apredetermined time duration after a determination that he backoff timerhas reached zero, cause the MIMO wireless communication in response to adetermination that the backoff timer has reached zero, and to adetermination that the CCA energy detection on the plurality ofsecondary RF chains indicates a clear medium, and cause a SISO wirelesscommunication in response to a determination that the backoff timer hasreached zero. For example, referring to FIG. 2b and for option 2, theprocessing circuitry, in the form of baseband processor 209 and/orapplication processor 206, may maintain a backoff counter only on RFchain 217, but perform CCA energy detection on RF chain 218, for examplefor a PIFS time period after the backoff timer has reached zero. Theprocessing circuitry may then cause MIMO channel access when the backofftimer has reached zero and when the CCA energy detection on RF chain 218shows a clear medium. The

A comparison of features, advantages and disadvantages of each of option1 and option 2 will be set forth below with respect to the impact ofeach option on the Medium Access Control layer (MAC) features of awireless communication device, and also on the Physical layer (PHY)features of a wireless communication device.

Regarding impact of MAC features on a wireless communication device,option 1 provide preamble detection in all directions of interest, as ituses all RF chains for this purpose. In this way, option 1 provides goodCCA sensitivity to the wireless communication device. Option 2 on theother hand provides preamble detection on the primary RF chain only, andenergy detection on secondary RF chains, in this way resulting in CCAsensitivity on the secondary channels that is not as strong as that ofoption 1. In addition, with respect to NAV observation and maintenance,option 1 provide full NAV observation on all RF chains, while option 2provide NAV observation only on the primary RF chain, with no NAVknowledge on the secondary RF chains. Regarding channel access, bothoptions allow SISO channel access when the backoff timer reaches 0,although, for option 1, the MIMO channel access is guaranteed when theMIMO backoff timer reaches 0, while for option 2, the MIMO channelaccess may be possible only if the secondary RF chains show CCA as clearfor a time period, such as a PIFS time period.

Regarding impact of PHY features on a wireless communication device, andspecifically regarding receiver architecture, option 1 requires supportof simultaneous reception (e.g. to allow simultaneous preamble detectionand simultaneous NAV observation), possibly requiring additionalLow-Density Parity Check (LDPC) decoders and/or LDPC decoders that arefaster when compared to receivers that do not allow simultaneousreception. On the other hand, option 2 requires only one reception at atime, with only energy detection per RF chain, and in this way, mayprovide a simpler PHY receiver architecture. In addition, options 1 and2 both support SISO reception before the backoff timer reaches 0.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a machine 400 orsystem upon which any one or more of the techniques (e.g.,methodologies) discussed herein may be performed. In other embodiments,the machine 400 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected(e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networked deployment, themachine 400 may operate in the capacity of a server machine, a clientmachine, or both in server-client network environments. In an example,the machine 400 may act as a peer machine in peer-to-peer (P2P) (orother distributed) network environments. The machine 400 may be apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, wearable computer device, aweb appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machinecapable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine, such as a base station. Further,while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shallalso be taken to include any collection of machines that individually orjointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform anyone or more of the methodologies discussed herein, such as cloudcomputing, software as a service (SaaS), or other computer clusterconfigurations.

Examples, as described herein, may include or may operate on logic or anumber of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules are tangibleentities (e.g., hardware) capable of performing specified operationswhen operating. A module includes hardware. In an example, the hardwaremay be specifically configured to carry out a specific operation (e.g.,hardwired). In another example, the hardware may include configurableexecution units (e.g., transistors, circuits, etc.) and a computerreadable medium containing instructions where the instructions configurethe execution units to carry out a specific operation when in operation.The configuring may occur under the direction of the executions units ora loading mechanism. Accordingly, the execution units arecommunicatively coupled to the computer-readable medium when the deviceis operating. In this example, the execution units may be a member ofmore than one module. For example, under operation, the execution unitsmay be configured by a first set of instructions to implement a firstmodule at one point in time and reconfigured by a second set ofinstructions to implement a second module at a second point in time.

The machine (e.g., computer system) 400 may include a hardware processor402 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit(GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a mainmemory 404 and a static memory 406, some or all of which may communicatewith each other via an interlink (e.g., bus) 408. The machine 400 mayfurther include a power management device 432, a graphics display device410, an alphanumeric input device 412 (e.g., a keyboard), and a userinterface (UI) navigation device 414 (e.g., a mouse). In an example, thegraphics display device 410, alphanumeric input device 412, and UInavigation device 414 may be a touch screen display. The machine 400 mayadditionally include a storage device (i.e., drive unit) 416, a signalgeneration device 418 (e.g., a speaker), a RF controller 419, a networkinterface device/transceiver 420 coupled to antenna(s) 430, and one ormore sensors 428, such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor,compass, accelerometer, or another sensor. The machine 400 may includean output controller 434, such as a serial (e.g., universal serial bus(USB), parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR), nearfield communication (NFC), etc.) connection to communicate with orcontrol one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer, card reader,etc.)).

The storage device 416 may include a machine readable medium 422 onwhich is stored one or more sets of data structures or instructions 424(e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of thetechniques or functions described herein. The instructions 424 may alsoreside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 404,within the static memory 406, or within the hardware processor 402during execution thereof by the machine 400. In an example, one or anycombination of the hardware processor 402, the main memory 404, thestatic memory 406, or the storage device 416 may constitutemachine-readable media.

The RF controller 419 (which may include for example logic withinbaseband processor 209, within application processor 206, within anyother processor on the machine 400) may be configured to control the RFchains within the machine to effect functionality described with respectto embodiments, such as with respect to options 1 and 2 described abovein relation to FIGS. 2a, 2b, 3a and 3 b.

While the machine-readable medium 422 is illustrated as a single medium,the term “machine-readable medium” may include a single medium ormultiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers) configured to store the one or moreinstructions 424.

The term “machine-readable medium” may include any medium that iscapable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution bythe machine 400 and that cause the machine 400 to perform any one ormore of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable ofstoring, encoding, or carrying data structures used by or associatedwith such instructions. Non-limiting machine-readable medium examplesmay include solid-state memories and optical and magnetic media. In anexample, a massed machine-readable medium includes a machine-readablemedium with a plurality of particles having resting mass. Specificexamples of massed machine-readable media may include non-volatilememory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., ElectricallyProgrammable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), or Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices;magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks;magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

The instructions 424 may further be transmitted or received over acommunications network 426 using a transmission medium via the networkinterface device/transceiver 420 utilizing any one of a number oftransfer protocols (e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP),transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP),hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.). Example communicationsnetworks may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a packet data network (e.g., the Internet), mobile telephonenetworks (e.g., cellular networks), Plain Old Telephone (POTS) networks,wireless data networks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards known as Wi-Fi®, IEEE 802.16family of standards known as WiMax®), IEEE 802.15.4 family of standards,and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, among others. In an example, thenetwork interface device/transceiver 420 may include one or morephysical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or moreantennas to connect to the communications network 426. In an example,the network interface device/transceiver 420 may include a plurality ofantennas to wirelessly communicate using at least one of single-inputmultiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), ormultiple-input single-output (MISO) techniques. The term “transmissionmedium” shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capableof storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution by themachine 400 and includes digital or analog communications signals orother intangible media to facilitate communication of such software. Theoperations and processes described and shown above may be carried out orperformed in any suitable order as desired in various implementations.Additionally, in certain implementations, at least a portion of theoperations may be carried out in parallel. Furthermore, in certainimplementations, less than or more than the operations described may beperformed.

Reference is made to FIG. 5, which schematically illustrates a method inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments. For example, one or moreof the operations of the method 500 of FIG. 5 may be performed by one ormore elements of a STA, such as STA 200 of FIG. 2.

As indicated at block 502, the method includes activating at least oneRadio Frequency (RF) chain of a plurality of RF chains to allowdetection of a preamble of a wireless communication and to allow asetting of a Network Allocation Vector (NAV). At block 504, the methodincludes detecting the preamble using the at least one RF chain.Thereafter, at block 506, the method includes setting the NAV using theat least one RF chain. At block 508, the method includes maintaining abackoff timer for the at least one RF chain. At block 510, the methodincludes, in response to a determination that the backoff timer hasreached zero, causing a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) wirelesscommunication in the EDMG network.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments. The terms “computing device”, “userdevice”, “communication station”, “station”, “handheld device”, “mobiledevice”, “wireless device” and “user equipment” (UE) as used hereinrefers to a wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone,smartphone, tablet, netbook, wireless terminal, laptop computer, afemtocell, High Data Rate (HDR) subscriber station, access point,printer, point of sale device, access terminal, or other personalcommunication system (PCS) device. The device may be either mobile orstationary. In addition, when “at least one of” a given set or list ofitems connected with “and” is mentioned herein, what is meant is areference to either one of the noted items or any combination of theitems. For example, as used herein, “at least one of A, B, and C” meansA, or B, or C, or A and B, or A and C, or B and C, or A and B and C.

As used within this document, the term “communicate” is intended toinclude transmitting, or receiving, or both transmitting and receiving.This may be particularly useful in claims when describing theorganization of data that is being transmitted by one device andreceived by another, but only the functionality of one of those devicesis required to infringe the claim. Similarly, the bidirectional exchangeof data between two devices (both devices transmit and receive duringthe exchange) may be described as ‘communicating’, when only thefunctionality of one of those devices is being claimed. The term“communicating” as used herein with respect to a wireless communicationsignal includes transmitting the wireless communication signal and/orreceiving the wireless communication signal. For example, a wirelesscommunication unit, which is capable of communicating a wirelesscommunication signal, may include a wireless transmitter to transmit thewireless communication signal to at least one other wirelesscommunication unit, and/or a wireless communication receiver to receivethe wireless communication signal from at least one other wirelesscommunication unit.

The term “access point” (AP) as used herein may be a fixed station. Anaccess point may also be referred to as an access node, a base station,or some other similar terminology known in the art. An access terminalmay also be called a mobile station, user equipment (UE), a wirelesscommunication device, or some other similar terminology known in theart. Embodiments disclosed herein generally pertain to wirelessnetworks. Some embodiments can relate to wireless networks that operatein accordance with one of the IEEE 802.11 standards.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices andsystems, for example, a Personal Computer (PC), a desktop computer, amobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tabletcomputer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld PDA device, anon-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device, a vehiculardevice, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a consumerdevice, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a wireless communicationstation, a wireless communication device, a wireless Access Point (AP),a wired or wireless router, a wired or wireless modem, a video device,an audio device, an audio-video (A/V) device, a wired or wirelessnetwork, a wireless area network, a Wireless Video Area Network (WVAN),a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN), a Personal AreaNetwork (PAN), a Wireless PAN (WPAN), and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one way and/or two-wayradio communication systems, cellular radio-telephone communicationsystems, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, aPersonal Communication Systems (PCS) device, a PDA device whichincorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portableGlobal Positioning System (GPS) device, a device which incorporates aGPS receiver or transceiver or chip, a device which incorporates an RFIDelement or chip, a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transceiver ordevice, a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) transceiver or device, aMultiple Input Single Output (MISO) transceiver or device, a devicehaving one or more internal antennas and/or external antennas, DigitalVideo Broadcast (DVB) devices or systems, multi-standard radio devicesor systems, a wired or wireless handheld device, e.g., a Smartphone, aWireless Application Protocol (WAP) device, or the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types ofwireless communication signals and/or systems following one or morewireless communication protocols, for example, Radio Frequency (RF),Infra Red (IR), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM), Orthogonal FDM(OFDM), Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-Division Multiple Access(TDMA), Extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS),extended GPRS, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA(WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICEMA), CDMA 2000, single-carrier CDMA,multi-carrier CDMA, Multi-Carrier Modulation (MDM), Discrete Multi-Tone(DMT), Bluetooth®, Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max,ZigBee™, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Global System for Mobile communication(GSM), 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, Fifth Generation (5G) mobile networks,3GPP, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE advanced, Enhanced Data rates forGSM Evolution (EDGE), or the like. Other embodiments may be used invarious other devices, systems, and/or networks.

Certain aspects of the disclosure are described above with reference toblock and flow diagrams of systems, methods, apparatuses, and/orcomputer program products according to various implementations. It willbe understood that one or more blocks of the block diagrams and flowdiagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and the flowdiagrams, respectively, can be implemented by computer-executableprogram instructions. Likewise, some blocks of the block diagrams andflow diagrams may not necessarily need to be performed in the orderpresented, or may not necessarily need to be performed at all, accordingto some implementations.

These computer-executable program instructions may be loaded onto aspecial-purpose computer or other particular machine, a processor, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a particularmachine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer,processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus create meansfor implementing one or more functions specified in the flow diagramblock or blocks. These computer program instructions may also be storedin a computer-readable storage media or memory that can direct acomputer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function ina particular manner, such that the instructions stored in thecomputer-readable storage media produce an article of manufactureincluding instruction means that implement one or more functionsspecified in the flow diagram block or blocks. As an example, certainimplementations may provide for a computer program product, comprising acomputer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program codeor program instructions implemented therein, said computer-readableprogram code adapted to be executed to implement one or more functionsspecified in the flow diagram block or blocks. The computer programinstructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus to cause a series of operational elements orsteps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus toproduce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions thatexecute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide elementsor steps for implementing the functions specified in the flow diagramblock or blocks.

Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams supportcombinations of means for performing the specified functions,combinations of elements or steps for performing the specified functionsand program instruction means for performing the specified functions. Itwill also be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flowdiagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flowdiagrams, can be implemented by special-purpose, hardware-based computersystems that perform the specified functions, elements or steps, orcombinations of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or“may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understoodwithin the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certainimplementations could include, while other implementations do notinclude, certain features, elements, and/or operations. Thus, suchconditional language is not generally intended to imply that features,elements, and/or operations are in any way required for one or moreimplementations or that one or more implementations necessarily includelogic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whetherthese features, elements, and/or operations are included or are to beperformed in any particular implementation.

EXAMPLES

The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

Example 1 includes a wireless communication device comprising a memory,a processing circuitry coupled to the memory and including logic, theprocessing circuitry to cause communication in an Enhanced DirectionalMulti-Gigabit (EDMG) network, the processing circuitry furtherconfigured to: activate at least one Radio Frequency (RF) chain of aplurality of RF chains to allow detection of a preamble of a wirelesscommunication and to allow a setting of a Network Allocation Vector(NAV); detect the preamble using the at least one RF chain; set the NAVusing the at least one RF chain; maintain a backoff timer for the atleast one RF chain; and in response to a determination that the backofftimer has reached zero, cause a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO)wireless communication in the EDMG network.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the backoff timer is a first backoff timer, and wherein theprocessing circuitry is to: maintain the first backoff timer on each RFchain of the plurality of RF chain; maintain a second backoff timer on asingle RF chain of the plurality of RF chains; cause the MIMO wirelesscommunication in response to a determination that the first backofftimer has reached zero; cause a SISO wireless communication in responseto a determination that the second backoff timer has reached zero.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and wherein processing circuitry isto: maintain the backoff timer on only the primary RF chain; performClear Channel Access (CCA) energy detection on the plurality ofsecondary RF chains for a predetermined time duration after adetermination that he backoff timer has reached zero; cause the MIMOwireless communication in response to a determination that the backofftimer has reached zero, and to a determination that the CCA energydetection on the plurality of secondary RF chains indicates a clearmedium; cause a SISO wireless communication in response to adetermination that the backoff timer has reached zero.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: activate allRF chains of the plurality of RF chains to allow detection of thepreamble; and detect the preamble using said all RF chains.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and wherein processing circuitry isto: activate only the primary RF chain to allow detection of thepreamble; and detect the preamble using only the primary RF chain.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of Example 1 wand optionally,herein the processing circuitry is further configured to: activate allRF chains of the plurality of RF chains to allow setting the NAV; andset the NAV using said all RF chains.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and wherein processing circuitry isto: activate only the primary RF chain to allow setting the NAV; and setthe NAV using only the primary RF chain.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-7, andoptionally, wherein the processing circuitry is to cause processing of areceived SISO signal before the backoff timer reaches zero.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-7, andoptionally, further comprising the plurality of RF chains, the RF chainsbeing coupled to the processing circuitry.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of Example 9, and optionally,further comprising at least one phased array antenna coupled to the RFchains.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1, 2, 4and 6, and optionally, further comprising: the plurality of RF chains,the RF chains being coupled to the processing circuitry; and a pluralityof phased array antennas, each of the plurality of phased array antennascoupled to a corresponding RF chain of the plurality of RF chains.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1, 3, 5and 7, and optionally, wherein, further comprising: the plurality of RFchains, the RF chains being coupled to the processing circuitry; and aphased array antenna coupled to the plurality of RF chains, wherein thephased array antenna includes a first antenna portion having a firstpolarization, and a second antenna portion having a second polarizationorthogonal to the first polarization, the first antenna portion beingcoupled to one RF chain of the plurality of RF chains, and the secondantenna portion being coupled to another RF chain of the plurality of RFchains.

Example 13 includes a method to be performed by a wireless communicationdevice, the method comprising: activating at least one Radio Frequency(RF) chain of a plurality of RF chains to allow detection of a preambleof a wireless communication and to allow a setting of a NetworkAllocation Vector (NAV); detecting the preamble using the at least oneRF chain; setting the NAV using the at least one RF chain; maintaining abackoff timer for the at least one RF chain; and in response to adetermination that the backoff timer has reached zero, causing aMultiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) wireless communication in the EDMGnetwork.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of Example 13, and optionally,wherein the backoff timer is a first backoff timer, and furtherincluding: maintaining the first backoff timer on each RF chain of theplurality of RF chain; maintaining a second backoff timer on a single RFchain of the plurality of RF chains; causing the MIMO wirelesscommunication in response to a determination that the first backofftimer has reached zero; causing the SISO wireless communication inresponse to a determination that the second backoff timer has reachedzero.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of Example 13, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and further including: maintaining thebackoff timer on only the primary RF chain; performing Clear ChannelAccess (CCA) energy detection on the plurality of secondary RF chainsfor a predetermined time duration after a determination that he backofftimer has reached zero; causing the MIMO wireless communication inresponse to a determination that the backoff timer has reached zero, andto a determination that the CCA energy detection on the plurality ofsecondary RF chains indicates a clear medium; and causing the SISOwireless communication in response to a determination that the backofftimer has reached zero.

Example 16 includes the subject matter of Example 13, and optionally,further including: activating all RF chains of the plurality of RFchains to allow detection of the preamble; and detecting the preambleusing said all RF chains.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of Example 13, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and further including: activating onlythe primary RF chain to allow detection of the preamble; and detectingthe preamble using only the primary RF chain.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of Example 13, and optionally,further including: activating all RF chains of the plurality of RFchains to allow setting the NAV; and setting the NAV using said all RFchains.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of Example 13, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and further including: activating onlythe primary RF chain to allow setting the NAV; and setting the NAV usingonly the primary RF chain.

Example 20 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 13-19, andoptionally, further including processing of a received SISO signalbefore the backoff timer reaches zero.

Example 21 includes a product comprising one or more tangiblecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media comprisingcomputer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at leastone computer processor, enable the at least one computer processor toperform the method of any one of Examples 13-20.

Example 22 includes a wireless communication device comprising: meansfor activating at least one Radio Frequency (RF) chain of a plurality ofRF chains to allow detection of a preamble of a wireless communicationand to allow a setting of a Network Allocation Vector (NAV); means fordetecting the preamble using the at least one RF chain; means forsetting the NAV using the at least one RF chain; means for maintaining abackoff timer for the at least one RF chain; and means for causing, inresponse to a determination that the backoff timer has reached zero, aMultiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) wireless communication in the EDMGnetwork.

Example 23 includes the subject matter of Example 22, and optionally,wherein the backoff timer is a first backoff timer, and furtherincluding: means for maintaining the first backoff timer on each RFchain of the plurality of RF chain; means for maintaining a secondbackoff timer on a single RF chain of the plurality of RF chains; meansfor causing the MIMO wireless communication in response to adetermination that the first backoff timer has reached zero; means forcausing the SISO wireless communication in response to a determinationthat the second backoff timer has reached zero.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of Example 22, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and the device further including:means for maintaining the backoff timer on only the primary RF chain;means for performing Clear Channel Access (CCA) energy detection on theplurality of secondary RF chains for a predetermined time duration aftera determination that he backoff timer has reached zero; means forcausing the MIMO wireless communication in response to a determinationthat the backoff timer has reached zero, and to a determination that theCCA energy detection on the plurality of secondary RF chains indicates aclear medium; causing the SISO wireless communication in response to adetermination that the backoff timer has reached zero.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of Example 22, and optionally,further including: means for activating all RF chains of the pluralityof RF chains to allow detection of the preamble; and means for detectingthe preamble using said all RF chains.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of Example 22, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and further including: means foractivating only the primary RF chain to allow detection of the preamble;and means for detecting the preamble using only the primary RF chain.

Example 27 includes the subject matter of Example 22, and optionally,further including: means for activating all RF chains of the pluralityof RF chains to allow setting the NAV; and means for setting the NAVusing said all RF chains.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of Example 22, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and further including: means foractivating only the primary RF chain to allow setting the NAV; and meansfor setting the NAV using only the primary RF chain.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 13-19, andoptionally, wherein, further including means for processing of areceived SISO signal before the backoff timer reaches zero.

Example 30 includes a product comprising one or more tangiblecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media comprisingcomputer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at leastone computer processor, cause the at least one computer processor toimplement operations at a wireless communication device, the operationscomprising: activating at least one Radio Frequency (RF) chain of aplurality of RF chains to allow detection of a preamble of a wirelesscommunication and to allow a setting of a Network Allocation Vector(NAV); detecting the preamble using the at least one RF chain; settingthe NAV using the at least one RF chain; maintaining a backoff timer forthe at least one RF chain; and in response to a determination that thebackoff timer has reached zero, causing a Multiple Input Multiple Output(MIMO) wireless communication in the EDMG network.

Example 31 includes the subject matter of Example 30, and optionally,wherein the backoff timer is a first backoff timer, the operationsfurther including: maintaining the first backoff timer on each RF chainof the plurality of RF chain; maintaining a second backoff timer on asingle RF chain of the plurality of RF chains; causing the MIMO wirelesscommunication in response to a determination that the first backofftimer has reached zero; causing the SISO wireless communication inresponse to a determination that the second backoff timer has reachedzero.

Example 32 includes the subject matter of Example 30, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and further including: maintaining thebackoff timer on only the primary RF chain; performing Clear ChannelAccess (CCA) energy detection on the plurality of secondary RF chainsfor a predetermined time duration after a determination that he backofftimer has reached zero; causing the MIMO wireless communication inresponse to a determination that the backoff timer has reached zero, andto a determination that the CCA energy detection on the plurality ofsecondary RF chains indicates a clear medium; causing the SISO wirelesscommunication in response to a determination that the backoff timer hasreached zero.

Example 33 includes the subject matter of Example 30, and optionally,further including: activating all RF chains of the plurality of RFchains to allow detection of the preamble; and detecting the preambleusing said all RF chains.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of Example 30, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and further including: activating onlythe primary RF chain to allow detection of the preamble; and detectingthe preamble using only the primary RF chain.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of Example 30, and optionally,further including: activating all RF chains of the plurality of RFchains to allow setting the NAV; and setting the NAV using said all RFchains.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of Example 30, and optionally,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, and further including: activating onlythe primary RF chain to allow setting the NAV; and setting the NAV usingonly the primary RF chain.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 30-36, andoptionally, wherein, further including processing of a received SISOsignal before the backoff timer reaches zero.

1.-25. (canceled)
 26. A wireless communication device of an EnhancedDirectional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) station (STA), the device comprising amemory, and processing circuitry coupled to the memory and includinglogic, the processing circuitry to: perform Clear Channel Assessment(CCA) energy detection at a plurality of radio frequency (RF) chains ofthe EDMG STA; in response to a determination that CCA is clear for onlya first RF chain of the plurality of RF chains, and that a backoff timerof the EDMG STA has reached zero, cause transmission of a Single InputSingle Output (SISO) EDMG communication; and in response to adetermination that CCA for the plurality of RF chains is clear, and thatthe backoff timer has reached zero, cause transmission of aMultiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) EDMG communication.
 27. The deviceof claim 26, wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RFchain and a plurality of secondary RF chains, and wherein processingcircuitry is further configured to cause preamble detection using onlythe primary RF chain to maintain a Network Allocation Vector (NAV). 28.The device of claim 26, wherein the MIMO communication is a multi-user(MU) MIMO communication.
 29. The device of claim 26, further comprisingthe plurality of RF chains, the RF chains being coupled to theprocessing circuitry.
 30. The device of claim 29, further comprising atleast one phased array antenna coupled to the RF chains.
 31. The deviceof claim 26, further comprising: the plurality of RF chains, the RFchains being coupled to the processing circuitry; and a plurality ofphased array antennas, each of the plurality of phased array antennascoupled to a corresponding RF chain of the plurality of RF chains. 32.The device of claim 26, further comprising: the plurality of RF chains,the RF chains being coupled to the processing circuitry; and a phasedarray antenna coupled to the plurality of RF chains, wherein the phasedarray antenna includes a first antenna portion having a firstpolarization, and a second antenna portion having a second polarizationorthogonal to the first polarization, the first antenna portion beingcoupled to one RF chain of the plurality of RF chains, and the secondantenna portion being coupled to another RF chain of the plurality of RFchains.
 33. A product comprising one or more tangible computer-readablenon-transitory storage media comprising computer-executable instructionsoperable to, when executed by at least one computer processor, cause theat least one computer processor to implement operations at a wirelesscommunication device of an Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabig (EDMG)station (STA), the operations comprising: performing Clear ChannelAssessment (CCA) energy detection at a plurality of radio frequency (RF)chains of the EDMG STA; in response to a determination that CCA is clearfor only a first RF chain of the plurality of RF chains, and that abackoff timer of the EDMG STA has reached zero, causing transmission ofa Single Input Single Output (SISO) EDMG communication; and in responseto a determination that CCA for the plurality of RF chains is clear, andthat the backoff timer has reached zero, causing transmission of aMultiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) EDMG communication.
 34. Theproduct of claim 33, wherein the plurality of RF chains includes aprimary RF chain and a plurality of secondary RF chains, the operationsfurther including causing preamble detection using only the primary RFchain to maintain the Network Allocation Vector (NAV).
 35. The productof claim 33, wherein the MIMO communication is a multi-user (MU) MIMOcommunication.
 36. A method to be used at a wireless communicationdevice of an Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabig (EDMG) station (STA),the method comprising: performing Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) energydetection at a plurality of radio frequency (RF) chains of the EDMG STA;in response to a determination that CCA is clear for only a first RFchain of the plurality of RF chains, and that a backoff timer of theEDMG STA has reached zero, causing transmission of a Single Input SingleOutput (SISO) EDMG communication; and in response to a determinationthat CCA for the plurality of RF chains is clear, and that the backofftimer has reached zero, causing transmission of a Multiple-InputMultiple-Output (MIMO) EDMG communication.
 37. The method of claim 36,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, the method further including causingpreamble detection using only the primary RF chain to maintain theNetwork Allocation Vector (NAV).
 38. The method of claim 36, wherein theMIMO communication is a multi-user (MU) MIMO communication.
 39. Awireless communication device of an Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabig(EDMG) station (STA), the device comprising: means for performing ClearChannel Assessment (CCA) energy detection at a plurality of radiofrequency (RF) chains of the EDMG STA; means for, in response to adetermination that CCA is clear for only a first RF chain of theplurality of RF chains, and that a backoff timer of the EDMG STA hasreached zero, causing transmission of a Single Input Single Output(SISO) EDMG communication; and means for, in response to a determinationthat CCA for the plurality of RF chains is clear, and that the backofftimer has reached zero, causing transmission of a Multiple-InputMultiple-Output (MIMO) EDMG communication.
 40. The device of claim 39,wherein the plurality of RF chains includes a primary RF chain and aplurality of secondary RF chains, the device further including means forcausing preamble detection using only the primary RF chain to maintainthe Network Allocation Vector (NAV).
 41. The device of claim 39, whereinthe MIMO communication is a multi-user (MU) MIMO communication.